Abstract
A simplified and an eco-friendly approach to develop polychloroprene rubber composites with high electrical conductivity is reported. The usage of room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulphonyl)imide and a low concentration (5. phr) of commercial grade multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in polychloroprene rubber exhibited an electrical conductivity of 0.1. S/cm with a stretchability >500%. The physical (cation-pi/pi-pi) interaction between the ionic liquid and the MWCNTs is evidenced by Raman spectroscopy. Transmission electron microscopy images exhibit an improved dispersion of the BMI modified tubes in matrix at various magnification scales. The dependency of dynamic properties on the concentration of ionic liquid at constant loading of nanotubes supports the fact that ionic liquid assists in the formation of filler-filler networks. The tensile modulus of 3. phr loaded modified MWCNT/CR composite is increased by 50% with regard to that of the unmodified MWCNT/CR composite. Mooney-Rivlin plot displays the existence of rubber-filler interactions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1441-1449 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Composites Science and Technology |
| Volume | 71 |
| Issue number | 11 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 28 Jul 2011 |
| Publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- A. Carbon nanotubes
- A. Nanocomposites
- B. Electrical properties
- B. Mechanical properties
- Ionic liquids
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ceramics and Composites
- General Engineering